IN A TIME WHERE THE INFORMATION WE READ IS QUESTIONED, THE PURCHASING OF GOODS IS DONE FASTER ONLINE, AND OUR GENERAL STATE OF HEALTH IS TYPICALLY DECLINING BECAUSE OF THE FOOD WE EAT AND THE FAST PACED LIVES WE LIVE, WE MUST, AS MEN, FIND A BALANCE WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE CONVENIENCES OF OUR WORLD AND PEACE OF MIND THAT WE’RE ENRICHING OUR BODIES CORRECTLY. IN OUR SEARCH TO FIND THIS SOLUTION, WE DISCOVERED THE NEWLY POPULAR, CARE/OF, AN ONLINE-BASED VITAMIN COMPANY WHOSE HONESTY AND RESEARCH IS ENSURING THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE TAKING THE RIGHT VITAMINS FOR THEIR SPECIFIC BODIES. WE SPOKE WITH CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, CRAIG ELBERT, ABOUT THE INDUSTRY OF VITAMINS AND TOUCHED ON A FEW SENSITIVE SPOTS WE HAD WHEN ORDERING SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS VITAMINS ONLINE. HE TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN A LOT OF THE IN’S AND OUT’S OF THE COMPANY AND HOW ITS ENRICHING THE LIVES OF ITS CUSTOMERS BEYOND JUST BEING A FASTER ALTERNATIVE FOR THOSE WITH BUSY LIVES. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OUR HANDS ON THE PRODUCT. READ UNTIL THE END TO HEAR OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CARE/OF VITAMINS.
HOW DO YOUR SURVEY QUESTIONS HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH CUSTOMER NEEDS FOR THEIR BODY? OUR AUDIENCE MAY BE SKEPTICAL ASKING, “SHOULDN’T THESE TYPES OF THINGS BE DETERMINED BY A PHYSICIAN?”
We built Care/of focused on honesty and we worked with leading doctors and researchers from Harvard, Tufts, and Northwestern to ensure our recommendations were grounded in scientific studies and clinical expertise. Our quiz asks about your health goals, habits, and lifestyle so we can recommend the best vitamins and minerals to support your needs. We also include the research that backs up each recommendation, so you understand exactly why we recommended each product and how it works. That said, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor if you do want more guidance.
THE FOCUS OF CARE/OF IS ON A MORE “PERSONALIZED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE”. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT? IS THIS WHY YOUR IMAGING IS SO MUCH FUN AND UNLIKE WHAT WE SEE IN THE MARKET?
With so many differences in our goals and lifestyles, the idea that there is one mass-market approach that fits all of us is just outdated. Our bespoke recommendations are tailored to your individual goals, so you get what you need to feel great without overdoing it on supplements you don’t need. We’re able to do this because we’re a digitally native company that’s built on data. We work hard to leverage the resources and transparency that technology provides, but it’s important to us that our brand is personal and friendly, too. Ultimately, we’ve set out to create a vitamin experience that’s delightful, and that influences a lot of our ideas around our aesthetic and packaging, like putting people’s names on their packs.
WHAT KINDS OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN WHEN PRODUCING YOUR PRODUCTS? ARE THEY SUBJECTED TO ANY STRICT MEDICAL LAWS THAT YOU MUST FOLLOW IN ORDER TO SAFELY DISTRIBUTE THESE VITAMINS?
We’re fully compliant with the regulations that the FDA sets around the vitamin and supplement industry, but it’s important to us to go even further when it comes to safety and quality. Beyond testing our product at multiple times throughout the production process, we take those quality standards to our supply chain – our products are sourced sustainably, and we use clean production practices that avoid the use of harsh chemicals.
CAN PEOPLE JUST GET THEIR VITAMINS FROM FOOD? WHAT MAKES CARE/OF DIFFERENT THAN TRADITIONAL VITAMIN RETAIL STORES?
Even if you’re eating a well-balanced diet, it can be hard to get all the nutrients you need for long-term health. The reality is that most people don’t get the daily-recommended amount of nutrients that the FDA recommends. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, you may not get enough Vitamin B12 or iron, since it is naturally found in animal products. If you live in the northern part of the country, you likely don’t get enough Vitamin D for a significant part of the year.
Aside from our commitment to personalization, the quality of our ingredients and the honesty we provide sets us apart from traditional vitamin stores. We take great care to source our ingredients from the places in the world where they grow best to make sure they are as potent, digestible, and bioavailable as they can be. We also promise to be transparent across the board, whether that’s about our supply chain or how solid the research backing a claim is — we even rank all of the studies so you know if a claim is emerging or well established, and can feel confident about your decisions.
WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED THE BUSINESS, WAS THERE SKEPTICISM ON HOW EFFECTIVE OR USEFUL THE PRODUCT WOULD BE? WHO IS YOUR MAIN DEMOGRAPHIC?
The vitamin industry has always been confusing and overwhelming, and it is easy to feel jaded about it. When customers come to us, they are looking for a personalized, honest experience grounded in the best quality ingredients so they feel good about what they are putting in their bodies.
Care/of customer is anyone who cares about their health and wants to take meaningful, but simple
steps to improve it.
HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT AN ALTERNATIVE OF HOW TO SERVE CLIENTS WHO WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CARE/OF REGIMEN, BUT ARE UNABLE TO SWALLOW PILLS?
Currently, Care/of vitamins and supplements are meant to be swallowed, but people who may have trouble swallowing pills can look to the Harvard Health Blog for a couple of tips:
- The pop-bottle method:
- Fill a plastic water or soda bottle with water.
- Put the tablet on your tongue and close your lips tightly around the bottle opening
- Take a drink, keeping contact between the bottle and your lips and using a sucking motion to swallow the water and pill. Don’t let air get into the bottle.
- The lean-forward method:
- Put a capsule on your tongue
- Take a sip of water but don’t swallow
- Tilt your chin toward your chest.
- Swallow the capsule and water while your head is bent.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE WHEN/IF A BUYER WANTS TO SWITCH THEIR VITAMIN FOCUS? PERHAPS I’VE DECIDED THAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON BUILDING ON MY IMMUNE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF MY COGNITIVE HEALTH, DOES THAT REQUIRE A LOT CHANGE?
It’s really easy to make changes with your custom vitamin packs from month to month depending on changes in your health or new interests you may have within wellness. After logging in, you can add or remove vitamins from your packs and the next month’s supply will reflect your changes.
WITH SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE NEWS WITH HEALTHCARE REFORM, WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND IS THE BEST COURSE OF PREVENTION FOR SOMEONE TO STAY HEALTHY BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY?
It is so important listen to what your body is telling you so that you can make lifestyle or diet changes to benefit your long-term health. At different points in your life, your body’s needs will change; even if you maintain a balanced diet, sleep well, and exercise often it’s important to make sure you’re filling any gaps that might exist. Make sure you know your family history, so you know what aspects of your health you need to start supporting early. And find doctors that you like and brands you trust that will support you as your goals change.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY SPECIFIC CLIENT STORIES OR USER EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE MADE CARE/OF SERVICE BETTER FOR ALL?
The idea for creating Care/of was inspired by my own frustration with the vitamin space. I knew I was vitamin D deficient from a recent trip to the doctor, and my wife was pregnant at the time and needed prenatal vitamins. But my experience in the vitamin aisle was so overwhelming — there were hundreds of different choices, lots of fine print, and no one to help me sort out all my options. Frankly, I was also skeptical of the labels I read based on what I’d heard in the news. I knew that there could be a better and more delightful experience in the vitamin space — one that actually empowers the customer to make healthy choices and provides them with accurate information.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE OF CARE/OF? WILL YOU BE MOVE INTO MORE FORMS OF SELF-HEALTHCARE?
Ultimately, our aim is to make it easier for people to live healthier lives – if we can do that, we’ll have succeeded! The pursuit of wellness is a pretty broad and significant part of people’s daily lives, and we’re eager to see how our approach to health can help people achieve their individual goals.
OUR IMPRESSION:
Co-Founder, Craig was kind enough to send us a sample of the Care/of Vitamins. After taking their survey, they suggested 4 vitamins (Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Ashwagandha, and Astaxanthin) the great thing about Care/of is that each daily packet is personalized and ready to rip open and take every morning. The packaging is both fun and inventive, something that the vitamin industry lacked previously. From our first day, we indeed noticed a change in our energy levels and awareness. Mornings can be groggy for most guys and caffeine is usually the quick fix. It felt great to know that by just taking a few vitamins, my body was clearly lacking these nutrients. I noticed a dramatic boost in my energy and general alertness. After roughly a month of the Care/of regimen, we personally noticed a difference, but WE SUGGEST trying it out for yourself.
DISCLAIMER - AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE JUST VITAMINS WHICH OUR BODIES LACKED OR WERE MISSING. THESE ARE NOT MIRACLE PILLS NOR WILL THEY SOLVE ANY SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES YOU HAVE. WE USED OUR CARE/OF VITAMINS TO ASSIST US ALONG WITH OUR GENERAL HEALTH MAINTENANCE. WORKING OUT FREQUENTLY, EATING PROPERLY AND GENERALLY TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY IS THE BEST WAY TO SEE RESULTS WITH THESE VITAMINS.
We want to thank both Carolyn and Craig at Care/of. It was because of them that this feature was possible. Genuine Men’s Magazine was gifted the product, but was NOT given any monetary compensation for this article. We wrote this article and review honestly for the education of our audience in hopes that you’ll both learn from it and make your own purchasing decision based on what you’ve read. Thanks for your viewership!
